GM global sales rise in second quarter

From a public relations standpoint, the second quarter of 2014 was one of the worst in the history of General Motors. But those negative headlines did little to scare off auto buyers in the U.S. or around the world, as the automaker sold 2.5 million vehicles globally during the period.

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2014 Chevy Impala

The automaker's two largest markets, China and the U.S., drove the company's results. Sales in China climbed 8 percent, while the U.S. saw sales rise 7 percent compared to the same period in 2013. Worldwide, the automaker's sales edged higher by 0.5 percent.

Those switches are linked to the recall of 2.6 million cars and more than 50 accidents that killed at least 13 people.

Buick rescues General Motors

The New York Times columnist Jim Stewart, discusses how the resurgence of the Buick brand has helped General Motors overcome problems from its recall crisis.

Since mid-February, GM's ignition switch crisis has been big news in the U.S. and, to a lesser extent, around the world. Still, sales have not slowed.

GM's struggling Cadillac brand saw sales improve during the second quarter, led by a 51 percent surge in China. The results helped offset a sluggish year for the luxury brand, which last week hired Infiniti's Johan de Nysschen as its new president.